Cargill CEO appointed to Deere board

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Deere & Company has elected Cargill CEO Gregory R. Page to its board of directors. Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services.

Based in Minneapolis, the privately held company employs about 140,000 people in 65 countries and has annual sales of more than $130 billion.

"As the leader of a global enterprise with a long record of success in the agricultural and food sectors, Greg brings a breadth of valuable experience to Deere as it addresses the world's growing need for food, fuel and feed," said Samuel R. Allen, Deere's chairman and CEO. "His insight and deep knowledge of the agricultural value chain are sure to make important contributions to our company. We are pleased he has agreed to join the Deere board."

Page was named Cargill's CEO in June 2007 and chairman of the board of directors later that year. Earlier he served in a number of leadership roles at the company including president and COO and corporate EVP. His background, which spans nearly 40 years with the Cargill organization, includes assignments in Singapore and Thailand.

Under Page's leadership, Cargill has seen significant growth and increasingly focused its operations on innovation and higher-value products. As well, Page has been a forceful advocate of his company's longstanding commitment to ethical business practices and responsible corporate citizenship.

Page grew up in Bottineau, N.D., and earned a degree in economics from the University of North Dakota. He is a member of the boards of directors of Eaton Corporation and Carlson Companies. Page also is a national board member and former board chairman of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

With Page's election, Deere & Company's board totals 12 members, 11 of whom are not employees of the company.